A worldwide symphony

     Like many of you, over the course of the last few days, I have been watching a lot of weather. They call the Hurricane that is coming, "Sandy." Some are even calling it, "Frankenstorm." When I first heard of it, I automatically thought of our old friends like: Dave, Michael, Dr. Brownback, Jeff, Scott and Veronica and all of their families. I was also reminded of our new friends, who we made in Pennsylvania, who are now dear brothers and sisters. How we pray that all will be well with them at the end of the storm.

      I was praying for these brothers and sisters at the end of our church service today. The Lord reminded me of an incredible fact, we have brothers and sisters who are all over this globe. As believers, our family that we are members of is so incredibly vast and huge. What an incredible Father we have, who has allowed us to be a part of His Body universal and through out all of time.

     Our family is not tied into one specific race. He allows all of the various colors of this world to blend into one, whether we be white, black, red, yellow or any other shade. He is not a respecter of age, as this incredible family has members who are much older, clean to the little children of this world whom He loves and adores. One day,. He will call His family members together from all around the globe.  From our blessed shores to Africa, Asia, South America, and every other continent in this world.

     Whenever I walk into our church, I am amazed at the various people that we meet. How our personalities are so varied, our social status, incomes, desires and needs are so far apart. Yet, for a few moments every week, we lift up our voices in praise to Him. We gather around His Word, which is the voice of our Father calling us to draw near to Him. All of our discords and differences are laid aside, and as varied as we are, we gather  around Him in perfect harmony. What is even more amazing is how He hears these same voices in homes, church buildings, caves, tunnels all around this globe. As we speak in our various languages and cry out His name, He hears a symphony of praise. This is the JOY of the body universal.

     We are brothers and sisters who are called out to change this world. We are brothers and sisters who are to be known for our love for one another. When one part of His body is in need or is hurting, we are called out to bring hope and healing. We can call out to our Father, who is no respecter of persons, for our needs as well as the needs of the body around the world and we can KNOW this for a fact, He will hear us.

     Not all of mankind is a part of this brotherhood, as some may teach. No, scripture tells us, that we can only be a part of this family if we have put our faith in Jesus alone. It is only through Him that we can come to the Father and be adopted into this family.

     One day, we shall see Him, face to face and what a day of rejoicing that will be. I also look forward to that day, when I will be able to see all of my brothers and sisters, gathered together and bringing forth praise towards Him in the greatest symphony of all time. How precious it will be to hear and to see crowns cast before His throne and every knee bowing down to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

   

A Bumper Sticker

If your like me I really don't pay to much attention to bumper stickers. Yes, I do have two of them and for those of you who know me they pretty well fit my families personality. You may have seen this one though as it really stood out to me." America is not at war, The Troops are at war, America is at the mall."

Now for some that may come across harsh or even cynical, but it is true. I have my freedoms and enjoy my life because of what some men were willing to sacrifice, so that I could work and play here in the USA. Even though there are times I may not like where our country seems to be headed. We have immense freedoms that others do not have in this world. I may own a gun. I am able to worship in the way that I want to and proclaim the name of Christ. I can say what I believe. I can even vote in a few more days for the leadership of our country. We truly do have it good.

The thing that I will never forget in all of this, is that it all came at the sacrifice of others. One morning some Mother and Father waved their son or daughter good-bye praying that they would come home soon. Only to be grieved with the news of their injuries or even the ultimate sacrifice of death. In no way will I ever be able to understand their pain and sorrow.  Their sacrifice should be honored daily. This is a debt we will never be able to repay.

In the same way I can never repay another debt. Born a sinner and deserving of Hell and all of its fury. The Father sent His Son to take my place, so that I can be free from the bondage of sin and Hell. He was spat upon, mocked, laughed at, beaten, flesh torn wide open and crucified for my sins. All of this done before His Father's eyes. Yet, in victory He has risen from the grave victoriously for you and me. We are free because of what He has done for us.

None of us could have made this sacrifice. Our sin has so scarred us, our death would have been meaningless. Yet the perfect one and the lamb without sin He could do this for us and not only us but for the sins of the whole world. Today may we never forget His awesome sacrifice and for His Father's love in that He was willing to let His Son take our place.

A CASUAL LOOK? MATTHEW 5:27-30

Matthew 5:27 ( ESV )

---

²⁷“You have heard that it was said, ^£‘You shall not commit adultery.’

·        The Pharisees would only look at this act as physical. Christ will bring up that the act of adultery and sexual sin starts within the mind.

·         Adultery is a sin that involves one party or both parties that are married and have sex with one another. Often though it was used interchangeably with the idea of any type of fornication outside of marriage.

·         “It was said.” Look at the following passages.  Ex. 20:14 you shall not commit adultery.  Lev. 20:10/Dt. 22:22 involved the death penalty. (It was not a small sin to God.), I  Cor. 6:9-10 The one who practices it will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:28 ( ESV )

---

²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

·         But I say-With the same authority as the Word of God because He is the Word of God incarnate.

·         Looks-Not the idea of seeing a woman scantily dressed but rather looking to gaze and examine her. A going out of the way to fantasize. He beholds her with regard.

·         Lustful-Idea is to desire or to be covetous about.  I want what I do not rightly possess and something that is another person’s. (In this case another man’s or women’s.)

·         The sin of adultery as well as all sexual sins starts with the eye gate.

·         Job knew this and he accordingly in Job 31:1 made a covenant with his eyes that he would not gaze upon a woman with this kind of intent. He knew there would be consequences.

·         Job 31:2 Job knew he would lose an inheritance or reward that God had for him.

·         Job 31:3-8 Job knew he would face punishment.

·         Job 31:9-12 Job knew he would possibly lose his wife and receive earthly punishment.

·         The person who lives this type of lifestyle with his eyes and within his heart has already in God’s eyes committed adultery. These verses fly not only in the face of sexual immorality between people but also can be used to deal with phone conversations, sexting and pornography.

Matthew 5:29-30 ( ESV )

---

²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

---

³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

·         Drastic, How serious of an issue is this to Jesus? Jesus in not advancing the mutilation of  our bodies. (This would be the cure, if sexual sin was just physical but the above verses state that it is far more than just that. He is trying to get us to see just how drastic we should be about dealing with this issue.) If it was literal than none of us would be able to see or touch each other again.

·         The words, “Cause you to sin,” has the idea of to scandalize, trip us up or to cause to stumble. Anything that would cause us to stumble we are to avoid or run away from. Think about Joseph in Potiphar’s house it’s time to run away.

·         The point is that it would be more profitable to lose members of our body than to bear the consequences of the guilt from falling into this sin.

·         Is this physical or temporal pleasure worth their eternal consequences? The words used here tear, throw it away and cut it off have the idea of to do so with force. These are violent acts and we must determine to deal with sexual sins in a drastic way rather than listening to the sirens of this world.

UNDESERVING, YET HE WILL COME BACK FOR ME

Some say that His return is just a fantasy,

 Childish dreams, fairy tales, but not reality,

Yet He never made a promise that He did not keep,

He said that He would come again and that is good enough for me.

I will see Him in all of His glory,

I will bow down and worship at His feet,

I will cry out with my voice Holy, Holy,

Undeserving, yet He will come back for me.

What does this world truly offer us?

What treasures are here that we will keep?

Nothing, but the fleeting things that will pass,

Yet, men will grasp the temporal rather than eternity.

Yet I would rather see Him in all of His glory,

I will one day bow down and worship at His feet,

I will cry out with my voice Holy, Holy,

Undeserving, yet He will come back for me.

He is no longer a baby meek and mild,

He is no longer the suffering one, who died for me,

Rather at this moment He is robed in white,

The Risen Lord and coming King of Kings,

I will see Him in all of His glory,

I will bow down and worship at His feet,

I will cry out with my voice Holy, Holy,

Undeserving, yet He will come back for me.

SHE

Her once darker hair is now covered with gray. There are lines in her face which tells the stories of years of sacrifice that can never be repaid. Yet, she is more beautiful to me than the most beautiful of women that that this world proclaims. Just a smile from her face offers me hope throughout the day.

She has never felt comfortable in the spotlight or the applause of men. She would rather be DOING than seeking to BE someone. My greatest of joys is to see the giving heart that she has. I am still amazed at how she will go out of her way to help someone who is in need. I wish that I could say that I have that heart but for her it comes naturally. It is who she is.

My girls are who they are because of her love for them. She has been their mother, their teacher and now that they are older she has become their friend. They still pile up on her when they are at home, clinging to her words of affirmation. She has cheered them on, put them to bed, held them in her arms through the hard times. Her hands have been that of a servant to her girls.

She has been true to her promise even though I have often failed. Our song was the old America song, “I need you.” As I grow older those words could not be more true to me then they are now. I do need her like the flower needs the rain.

 She has chased my dreams, fought with me, cried with me and prayed with me. Her love has never let me go. She has been forever faithful. When I have been at my ugliest she has still been there for me. She has been the best friend that anyone could ever have.

I have written poems about her but none of them have ever truly expressed how I feel.  You see like many of you I just can’t find the words. I feel inadequate in trying to put my thoughts down. For those of you who know me it’s the only time where I feel clumsy in expressing myself.

Just the mention of her name or a smile from her face makes me feel complete and whole. When I know that she is behind me my world makes sense. I feel like a young man in his twenties who like Caleb can take the mountain, slay the dragons and fight the foes.

What a gift God has given to us. The two have become one. What a treasure! What a jewel is the love of a wife for her man.

JULIE AND HANNAH

HADASSAH, JULIE AND HANNAH

WHAT AM I WILLING TO GIVE TO THE KING?

Malachi 1:6 ( ESV )

6

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

• The questions of Israel to God about How have you loved us in verse 2 is now turned around. The real question should be, What about your love for me and how do you show it?

• A pattern seems to develop through the book as well. (Lord makes a statement, men ask how, Lord then tells them. 1:2-3, 1:7, 2:13-14, 2:17, 3:6-8, 3:13-15**)
• Two types of relationships are viewed here.  Father/Son, Servant/Master.
• Both positions have the idea of submission towards, yet the priest wanted to make their own rules and exceptions.
• Definition of honor?   Word is to be heavy or give weight to something. Same word is used in Ex. 20 @ a Child honoring his parents.   This is what is lacking with the Lord in His relationship to His children. The Lord is asking where is my honor?)
• Definition of fear?     To be terrified or to tremble.   This is what is lacking towards the Lord from His servants in this passage.  Despise here means, To disesteem or to disdain. The very opposite of honor.

• He is called the Lord of hosts here or the Lord of armies. How does this deal with the passage? He is the master of our souls and He alone will right the wrong of this world.

• Lord of Hosts-Used more often in the book of Malachi than any other OT book. II Kings 6:17 Do we see His armies gathered around us?
• The priests are the ones in this passage who despise His name. The very ones who should have been the leaders in how to honor His name. The Priest should have also been the ones who guarded the sancturay's entrance. They should have been the ones who said NO.
• How has His name been dishonored? Question is answered in the next  verse.

Malachi 1:7 ( ESV )

7By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.

• Definition for the word polluted in this passage. To soil, to stain or to defile.

• My altar-They had forgotten who the offerings were for and that this was His altar.
• How have we-I don't know about you but the tone seems to be that of one who almost sounds sarcastic in his tone.
• Polluted you-Note the correspondence b/w the altar and how they see that it represents His very personhood.
• They would have never had said this by their words but their actions spoke so.

Malachi 1:8 ( ESV )

8When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

• Blind, lame or sick-Lev. 22:22, Dt. 15:21 Dt. 17:1**.  These types of offerings were in direct violation to God's Word. How did this take place might be the question to ask. Sick-Worn out or wounded. Why was this so important? Every sacrifice was to remind Israel of the Lamb of God who would not just cover their sins but take them away. John 1:35**

• Definition of evil-Wretched or displeasing. Term is used two times in the passage.
• Governor-Possibly the Persian ruler of the time.
• Almost in an ironic voice the Lord says to present it to your governor. Modern day example: Would you give this kind of offering to your president? Ex: Pretend that your president would come to your house what would you feed him?
• We become apathetical towards God and the things of God in our lives, at the heart of the matter it is seldom Does God Love us and How? But rather have we left our first love. Rev. 2:4-5**

Malachi 1:9 ( ESV )

9And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

• Intercessors for the people who should have sought favor from God but they had despised His very name.
• Do you really think that the Lord of Armies would show favor to you by you acting this way? What kind of gifts have you offered Him? Have they been your very best?
• Favor-Respect

Malachi 1:10 ( ESV )

10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

• One among you-Who would stand in the gap and do right? When it came to offending His name. Who would say enough is enough. Who would serve their Lord to the uttermost and give Him their all?
• Shut the doors to the temple. It would be better not to even have a service. (Illus: Communion at Beckham.)
• Vain offerings-Please don't even light a fire on the altar. I Samuel 15:22-23** They had forgotten the old story of Saul's incomplete obedience. By doing it His way God told Him it would be better for him not to sacrifice.  God does not just want us to go through the motions and do it our own way. No when we truly love Him we will want to show Him our love and respect by obeying what we know that we should do.

• The Lord actually takes no pleasure in them as a group of leaders who had offended His name.

• Not all our offerings are accepted by the Lord.

Malachi 1:11 ( ESV )

11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be£ great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

• Rising of the sun-Idea is that from one end of the earth to the other. Also has the idea of a future time. Ps. 50:1,Psalms 113:3 One day like Ruth they will come to Him. Ruth 1:16-17.
• My name will be great-Though dishonored by His own His name will be praised throughout the whole world.
• Incense will be offered-Idea of prayer will be offered up. The praise of our lips. The prayers of the saints offered up in the book of Revelation. Archaeological Bible " The aromatic odor was the only physical entity to enter to permeate the veil that sealed off the divine presence from the ministering priesthood.  Like a smoke rising up to the heavens. Ps. 141:2 "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."

• Pure offerings in contrast to the polluted ones offered up earlier.

• My name will be great among the nations. How? The Lion of Judah will come forth.

Malachi 1:12 ( ESV )

12But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised.

• Profane-To wound or dissolve.
• When you say-They even knew what they were doing was not offering up their best. This is where it really gets bad. They knew that they were not giving their best to the Lord. Do we get to this point in our lives? We are just to tired.
• Despised-The word is used again in this passage.

Malachi 1:13 ( ESV )

13But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord.

• What a Weariness-Definition of weariness-What a trouble. Has His Word become tiresome and weary to you? Do you feel like you are only going through the motions? I challenge you as a brother in the Lord to keep your eyes focused on Jesus as a Living and Breathing reality in your life. The lover, the father, and the Lord of the armies of your soul. This is who we are living for in the midst of the daily grind.                                                           
• Not only had it become a wearisome thing but they even snorted at it. (The idea of to look down upon?)

• Taken by violence- Idea is that these animals were torn. Wild animals or the owners own abuse of the animal.

• Shall I accept this from your hand? The answer is a resounding NO. God does not want us to live shoddy lives before Him but giving Him the best that we have.

Malachi 1:14 ( ESV )

14Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

• Cursed-Does not matter whether or not that they were Israelites, they would be cursed if they continued to treat their God in this way.
• Cheat-What word is used for this in other translations? Thief. NAS Swindler.
• Blemished-A marred one or perishing.
• He is the Great King-Above all rulers and above all men or earthly thrones. Phil. 2:5-11
• My name will be feared-The king will be honored. My name will be reverenced.

• Male-It had to be a male sacrificial animal without blemish. Lev. 22:18-23

Have we like the priest of Malachi's time become apathetical in our walks? Have we become complacent? Have we forgotten our first love? If so will we not confess it, do our first works and be even more obedient to the one who loves our souls?

ANGER AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. MATTHEW 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21-26

²¹  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

Matt 5:21 (ESV)

Ø  Have heard-This will be a constant through the passage. 27, 31,33, 38 and 43. Jesus is referring to the OT but now there is a new law with motive behind it not just the action that we will be judged by.

Ø  Murder-Exodus 20:13, Barnes, “This literally denotes taking the life of another with malice or the intention to murder him.” Murder was wrong but the anger prompting the murder is wrong as well.

Ø  Judgment-This would occur for those who committed murder during those days.  “This was the tribunal that had cognizance of cases of murder, etc. It was a court that sat in each city or town, and consisted commonly of seven members. It was the lowest court among the Jews, and from it an appeal might be taken to the Sanhedrim” Barnes

²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matt 5:22 (ESV)

Ø  I Say-Jesus words were just as authoritative as the LAW. McGee, “He is lifting himself up to be the lawgiver and the authority on the Law.

Ø  Angry-An anger without a cause, unjust and rash. A malice that burns within ones breast and is poured out with all of its filth.

Ø  Judgment-Not just earthly courts but also in the heavens itself.

Ø  The root of murder is that of anger towards another.

Ø  The idea of the one who insults his brother is translated Raca in some versions, it was a Syriac word expressive of great contempt and denotes senseless, stupid or one of shallow brains. Verbal abuse of one another.

Ø  Fool-Has the idea of more than just one who lacked wisdom but also was used of those who were idolaters and guilty of great crimes. Literally He was a rebel against God.

Ø  Hell of fire-We are not just talking about earthly judgment but the judgment of Hell itself. At one time outside of the city in Area of Gehenna children were offered to the god Molech in flames. Drums would be played to drown out the sounds of their cries. Later on it would be a place where Israel’s garbage would be dumped and burnt continually. It would be used for executions and to throw away dead carcasses. Fire was made in order to destroy them as well as the garbage later on.

Ø  Result: To the person who has this type of anger his lifestyle is one that deserves the flames of Hell. Anger is NEVER something to be proud of. No matter what our upbringing or culture was like do not take pride in having an angry heart.

²³  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Matt 5:23 (ESV)

Ø  “This transports us to the moment when the Israelite, having brought his sacrifice to the court of the Israelites, awaited the instant when the priest would approach to receive it at his hands. He waits with his gift at the rails which separate the place where he stands from the court of the priests, into which his offering will presently be taken, there to be slain by the priest, and by him presented upon the altar of sacrifice." It is at this solemn moment, when about to cast himself upon divine mercy, and seek in his offering a seal of divine forgiveness, that the offerer is supposed, all at once, to remember that some brother has a just cause of complaint against him through breach of this commandment in one or other of the ways just indicated. —Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary What then were they supposed to do? GET IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY, NO DELAY!!

Ø  Your brother-In this passage if you know that someone has something against you do not let it just go on. We are to go to them immediately.

Ø  Don’t just go through the religious motions but take care of your problems and then come to fellowship with the Lord.

²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matt 5:24 (ESV)

Ø  First, has the idea of to get thing right quickly with one another as soon as possible. There is a sense of urgency here in the passage.

Ø  Be reconciled-Don’t dismiss things with an excuse but run to your brother and deal with the sin between you and him. In Matthew 11 we will see the converse to this which is if a brother has offended us and we carry that in our heart we are to go to him. No easy outs here.

²⁵  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶ Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Matt 5:25-26 (ESV)

Ø  Sometimes our sins against our fellow brothers will come to a court of law here on earth and we are told do our best to get things right with our brothers before it gets to that point. For if we are in the wrong we will face judgment.  ( I Cor. 6:6-7) In the same way we will all appear before the Lord and he wants us to be clean before judgment.

Judgment will be based justly even to the last fraction of the coin.